The only southern (or suitable) roof nearby is my garage, and the neighbor's trees may be a problem. I can't tell right now for certain because the tree doesn't really have leaves yet. Carl, I've read your posts about solar panels, but do you think I can gain enough to warm the water as much as I'd like in spring and fall?

Frequently our temps jump high enough in early spring that I can open the pool and have it up and running within a week. This spring is different and I'm afraid I'm going to have to open it while the water is still quite cold. I hate doing the work when it is too cold to use! :-)

Even when we have an early hot spring, August nights start to cool off a lot, and although we may get daytime highs near 90, it drops into the 40s at night and even covered the pool doesn't recover enough to be warm the next day.

I would love a heat pump, but I don't think I'm going to have that amount to spend this spring before we open. I would love to go the solar route if I thought it would actually give me the +10 I'm looking for.

Jean